Danger-signal



(No Model.) v

J. MGCONAYHY 85.0. H. MOCORMICK.

DANGER SIGNAL.

No. 590,849. Patented sept. 28,1897.

NrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JAMES MCCONAYHY AND CHARLES H. MOCORMICK, OF VICTOR, COLORADO.

* DAN'eERfsle NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,849,3datedSeptember 28, 1897.

Application led May 24,1897. Serial No. 637,959. (No model.) l

To all whom, t may concern.;

Be it known that we,JAMEs MCCONAYHY and CHAELEs H. McCoRMIcK, citizensof the United States,residing at Yictor,in the county of El Paso andState of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Danger-Signals, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is avertical section of an elevatorshaft and an intersectingmine-level provided with our improveds'ign'al; Fig. 2, a plan sectionbelow line moc, Fig. 1;*and Fig. 3, a detail View of the spring andrack-bar.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in danger-signalsspecially adapted for,

mines; and our object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and reliabledevice designed to protect miners from one of the chief perils to whichtheyare exposed when working in tunnels or levels which pass directlythrough or terminate at an elevator-shaft.

The invention consists of `a signal-lantern provided on its sides withglass of contrasting colors and mounted on a vertical rotatable stemwhich is automaticallyactuated by mechanism in such a manner as toindicate at sight the locality of the cage or platform of the elevatorwith respect to any particular level, thereby giving timely warning andpreventing disaster.

The peculiar merit of the device will be apparent by referring to theaccompanying drawings, in Which- A indicates the shaft of a mine,4 and Ba level which intersects the same. A stand 2 is located near one side ofthe level and has a stem 3 journaled therein. Its lower end carries apinion 4, engaging a rack-bar 5, attached at one end to the center of acurved spring 6, which is actuated bya friction-roller attached to theplatform or cage of the elevator 7 as it passes up or down the shaft. Alantern 8, having four sides, is mounted on the stem 3. Two of theopposite sides of the lantern are provided with white glass, the othertwo with red glass.

It will be understood that when the elevator-cage engages the spring themovement will cause the lanternto turn a lquarter of a revolution. Y

The operation of the device is easily eX- plained. The position of thelantern being at right angles with the level if a red light, indicatingdanger, is displayed the elevator-cage is eithe'r above or below thatlevel, and the shaft must not be approached until the white light isseen, showing that the cage is present. It will be observed that when alevel extends through a shaft the signals are as plainly visible fromone direction as the other.

What we claim as new is- In a danger-signal, of the character described,the combination with thev stand, the rotatable stem, the lantern, andthe pinion at the lower end of said stem, of the rack-bar engaging withsaid pinion, the curved spring to which said rack-bar `is secured andthe vertically-movable elevator-cage adapted to contact with saidrack-bar and actuate the same' to turn the stem and lantern;substantially as Specified. l

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands,this 10th day of May, 1897, in the presence of Witnesses.

JAMES MCCONAYHY. cHAs. n. MoooRMrcK.

Witnesses :l

L. B. DEWEY, B. F. LOHUN.

